Too many organizations still think of backups as their defense against ransomware. While backup systems are essential, relying on them is risky. Backups can’t prevent an attack, and there’s a good chance hackers will wipe them out if you don’t have proper protection in place.
For example, when delivery company CDEK was hit by ransomware, hackers also destroyed all backups, causing major disruption and an estimated $1 billion in damages.
In this article, we’ll explore why relying on backups alone is a gamble, and how a proactive, multi-layered ransomware defense offers stronger protection.
Why Backup Often Fail in Ransomware Attacks
Backups are meant to help you bounce back after a ransomware attack. In a perfect world, you’d just restore your files and carry on. No need to pay the ransom, no major disruption.
However, this ideal scenario hardly holds up in the real world.
Backups only work smoothly when everything else does, too. In a straightforward attack, where you quickly contain the breach, hackers don’t compromise your backups, and recovery goes exactly to plan, you might get your data back and avoid major fallout.
In reality, backups often fall short when ransomware strikes. Here’s why.
Ransomware Threat Actors Target Backups
Backups aren’t a secret weapon. In fact, 93% of ransomware attacks actively target backups.
Threat actors know that backups often contain the information they’re looking to lock down and target them first. If an organization is breached, competent hackers will ensure they can disable or delete any backups before deploying any ransomware.
Tip: The right cybersecurity strategy can help you protect your backups from ransomware.
Backups Can’t Stop Data Leaks
Ransomware isn’t just about locking files anymore. Attackers now steal data and threaten to leak it. Double extortion attacks have surged 126% year-over-year, leading to a record number of such attacks in Q1 of 2025, according to a recent study.
Even if you successfully use backups to recover, your sensitive employee and customer data could still end up on the dark web, damaging your reputation and leading to compliance issues and lawsuits.
Backups Can Fail
There are often stories of backups not working during a ransomware attack. Backups can be ineffective, especially if they’re not maintained and tested regularly.
If an organization does get hit with ransomware, they may find that the backup simply doesn’t work or was set up too far back for it to be usable.
Backups Don’t Provide Immediate Recovery
You can’t usually rely on backups for immediate recovery. In many cases, the restoration process can take hours or even days, depending on the volume of data and the complexity of the systems involved. This delay can significantly disrupt business activities and impact your Recovery Time Objective (RTO).
It takes time because organizations often don’t know which files have been affected by ransomware, and so they’re not sure which files to restore, either. They can perform a system-wide restore, but this takes time, and the files may not be up-to-date, which means recent files get lost in the shuffle.
Why You Need a Proactive Ransomware Strategy
Backups aren’t useless, but they shouldn’t be your only line of defense.
If a company gets hit by ransomware, that’s a sign of a vulnerability that could lead to other kinds of cyberattacks or another ransomware attack. 78% of companies who are hit with a ransomware attack and pay the ransom are targeted again.
Therefore, it’s essential to invest in technology that detects and removes threats and attacks before they can fully compromise your organization. Look for ransomware protection that recognizes patterns and suspicious behavior to actively block the ransomware. ProLion DataDefense detects and blocks ransomware in real time, neutralizing threats before they can encrypt your data, disrupt your business, and cause revenue loss.
By combining backups with ransomware detection and prevention, you can build a layered security strategy that’s able to prevent attacks.
Ransomware Has Evolved. Your Defenses Should Too.
Modern ransomware doesn’t just encrypt files. It leaks data, wipes backups, and circles back for a second attack. You need tools that detect ransomware as it’s happening, and not just after it’s too late.
With DataDefense, you can take a proactive stance against ransomware, building a vital line of defense against attacks.
Want to see for yourself how DataDefense can ramp up your ransomware defenses? Watch the demo and see firsthand how proactive ransomware protection can safeguard your organization’s valuable data.
